Breakfast Re-set!

I used to have trouble with a Western breakfast. I can’t abide porridge, muesli leaves me cold, toast leaves me heavy and fruit is somehow not enough. Then a couple of years ago I went to Japan with my sister and my Japanese brother-in-law and found myself in breakfast heaven! Pickles, omelette, miso soup, fish and all sorts of other savoury delights, all exquisitely presented, making my taste buds dance and leaving me completely satisfied. Now I wasn’t ever going to get up at 5am to start pickling the daikon as my brother-in-law’s mother does, but it did get me starting to think creatively about what I wanted to eat when I broke my fast each day. It allowed me to be unshackled from the admittedly self imposed restriction around what breakfast should look like.
So here are some of my current favourites:

THE SUBSTANTIAL BREAKFAST

When I have a little more time in the morning and often when I’ve done a strong yoga practice or have come back from a swim and I feel in need of something substantial, I go for my favourite omelette/frittata. I gently sweat a chopped leek and courgette with a few mushrooms until soft (use a frying pan with a lid) Then I add either some cubes of feta cheese or smoked tofu and 2 beaten eggs and continue to cook with the lid off. Then I pop it under the grill for a few minutes to cook the top, slide it onto a plate and sprinkle with spouted mung beans or have a small side green salad.

THE VIBRANT BREAKFAST

Spiralised courgette, avocado, orange, olives, red pepper, walnuts and seeds make a very delicious, nutritious and satisfying Winter Salad. It might seem a little strange to opt for salad for breakfast but give it a try – if you take the ingredients out of the fridge a while before making so you are eating it at room temperature.

Of course muesli not an unusual breakfast choice for many of us, but have you ever tried makingBircher muesli? It’s a great option when you’re short of time. The slow energy release oats are soaked overnight in apple juice and milk of your choice, then grated apple, honey, yoghurt and cinnamon are mixed in and a delicious nutty topping added. The great thing about it is that you can prepare most of it the night before; put the oat mixture into one jar and the dried ingredients into another….in the morning you add the grated apple etc. to the oat jar, tip the toppings in and off you go!

THE WARMING BREAKFAST

My current favourite when I want something warm and comforting with a little bit of natural sweetness is Banana & Apple Surprise – with the surprise being a delicious layer of maca (for energy and stamina) and cacao nibs nestled between a bottom layer of mashed banana and good tahini and the top layer of warm spiced cooked apple.

THE CLASSIC BREAKFAST

It’s a classic but such a goody! Avocado on rye toast, with poached egg and rocket. Packed with protein, good fats and healthy nutrient dense dark leafy greens, it’ll set you up for the day

It’s always a good idea to include some protein in your breakfast. Some great sources are eggs, nuts & seeds, lentils & beans and tofu & tempeh. Not only does protein keep you feeling full for longer, but also it is absolutely essential for every function in our bodies.

I’ll leave you with an interesting fact: The glycaemic index is the measure of classifying foods according to their potential to raise blood glucose levels, leading to a surge and then plunge in energy levels. Cooked and cooled rice, pasta and potatoes are lower on the glycaemic index than when they are hot, even if they are re-heated, leading to energy levels that are steady and more sustained….so here’s a big-up for eating the leftovers of last night’s dinner for breakfast!

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